Note-holding device

ABSTRACT

A note-holding device including a horizontally elongated base member having a vertically extending planar surface, a substantially coextensive cooperating elongated member having upper and lower edge structures and a marble receiving cavity therebetween, the cooperating member being fixedly secured to the base member by end walls closing the marble cavity and spacing the upper and lower edge structures from the vertical planar surface of the base member to define horizontally elongated upper and lower note paper receiving slots, the cavity is substantially filled with a plurality of spherical glass marbles which engage a lower surface within the cavity disposed at a 45* angle with the vertical planar surface so that the weight of the marbles bias the same into point contact with the vertical surface, the arrangement permits the marbles to releasably hold note paper either in a depending relation from the lower slot or an upstanding relation from the upper slot, or both.

United States Patent [1 1 Bittner 1 NOTE-HOLDING DEVICE [76] Inventor:Richard W. Bittner, Box 57,

Sipesville, Pa. 15561 [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 218,709

[52] U.S. Cl. 211/89, 24/244 [51] Int. Cl A471 5/08, A47f 7/00 [58]Field of Search 211/89, 87, 50, 16, 211/69.1, 45; 24/244, 126 B; 248/205A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,485,092 2/1924 Rauchut24/244 2,912,117 11/1959 211/89 3,148,777 9/1964 21l/69.1 3,168,9542/1965 211/50 3,298,647 l/1967 Shepard... 211/89 X 3,399,429 9/1968Goodman 211/50 X 3,458,946 8/ 1969 Lasswell 248/205 A X 3,675,782 7/1972Dudley 211/89 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,219,678 12/1959 France211/89 231,688 7/1944 Switzerland 24/244 Aug. 28, 1973 PrimaryExaminer-Ramon S. Britts Attorney-John W. Malley, Raymond F. Lippitt eta1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A note-holding device including a horizontally elongatedbase member having a vertically extending planar surface, asubstantially coextensive cooperating elongated member having upper andlower edge structures and a marble receiving cavity therebetween, thecooperating member being fixedly secured to the base member by end wallsclosing the marble cavity and spacing the upper and lower edgestructures from the vertical planar surface of the base member to definehorizontally elongated upper and lower note paper receiving slots, thecavity is substantially filled with a plurality of spherical glassmarbles which engage a lower surface within the cavity disposed at a 45angle with the venical planar surface so that the weight of the marblesbias the same into point contact with the vertical surface, thearrangement permits the marbles to releasably hold note paper either ina depending relation from the lower slot or an upstanding relation fromthe upper slot, or both.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 NOTE-HOLDING DEVICEThis invention relates to note-holding devices and more particularly todevices of this type embodying spheres such as marbles or the like whichfunction as the releasable holding means for the paper on which notesand other material are written.

The broad idea of utilizing a spherical member or a plurality ofspherical members as the releasable holding means in a note-holdingdevice is known in the art. The present invention relates toimprovements in such devices which render them more versatile in use,effective in operation, and simple in construction so, that they may beeconomically manufactured.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anote-holding device of the type described which is simple inconstruction, economical to manufacture, versatile in use and effectivein operation. This object is obtained in accordance with the principlesof the present invention by utilizing two main components in addition toconventional glass marbles as the spherical elements, which componentsare easily and economically fabricated and assembled into operativerelation with the marbles, the arrangement in operative positionproviding spaced horizontally elongated upper and lower note paperreceiving slots rendering the same set of marbles capable of functioningas the releasable holding means for note papers and the like either in aposition extending downwardly from the lower slot or upwardly from theupper slot or both.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of anote-holding device of the type described having means for receiving andsupporting a writing instrument.

These and other objects will become more apparent during the course ofthe following detailed description and appended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein illustrative embodiments are shown.

In the drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a note-holding device embodyingthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view takenalong the line 33 of FIG. 2;and I FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of thedevice,.illustrating a modified form of connection between the basemember and integral end walls of the cooperating member.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, there isshown therein a note-holding device, generally indicated at 10, whichembodies the principles of the present invention. The device includes ingeneral an elongated base'member 12, a generally coextensive cooperatingelongated member 14, a series of marbles l6 and end wall means 18 forinterconnecting the two members 12 and 14 in operative relation with themarbles 16.

The base member 12 is provided with means for securing the same to asuitable support on which the device is to be stationed. Such means maytake many forms including apertures for receiving fasteners, suctioncups or the like, however, in the preferred embodiment illustrated inFIGS. l-3, the support mounting means is preferably in the form of apair of adhesive pads or strips 20 suitably secured to the back surfaceof the base member 12, as by an adhesive or the like, each adhesive pad20 having an exposed adhesive surface protected by a peelable strip 22.In the embodiment shown, there are two adhesive pads 20 provided, one ateach end of the elongated member 12 and each pad extending generallyvertically and being formed of foamed plastic material. It will beunderstood that by peeling off the protective strips 22 and engaging theadhesive pads 20 to a vertical support surface, as for example a wall orthe like, the base member 12 is fixedly supported in an operativeposition wherein the elongation of the base member 12 extends generallyhorizontally.

The base member 12 includes an exterior planar surface 24 which isdisposed vertically when the base member is mounted in its operativeposition. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. l-3, the basemember 12 is formed from a rigid plastic material although it will beunderstood that other rigid materials may be utilized if desired.Moreover, the preferred base member 12 shown in FIGS. 13 is formed as anextrusion and therefore has auniform cross-sectional configurationthroughout which is essentially rectangular and elongated in thevertical direction.

The cooperating member 14 is formed with an upper edge construction,indicated at 26, a lower edge construction, indicated at 28, and aninterior marblereceiving cavity 30 extending between the upper and loweredge constructions 26 and 28. Here again, the member 14 is preferablymade of a rigid plastic material, although other rigid materials may beutilized if desired. Again, the preferred embodiment of the cooperatingmember 14 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 is formed as an extrusion and has auniform cross-sectional configuration throughout which is essentiallyL-shaped.

With the extruded members 12 and 14 described above in connection withthe preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. l-3, the end wall means 18 bywhich two members are fixedly mounted in operative position with respectto the marbles 16, is in the form of a pair of separate end wallelements, each of which is made of a plastic material similar to theplastic material of the members 12 and 14. The end wall elements areessentially triangular shaped and fixedly secured between opposite endsof the members 12 and 14 by any suitable means, as for example, anappropriate cement or adhesive or by welding, such as solvent or sonicwelding. It will be noted that the end wall elements 18 have their basesurfaces fixed to the ends of the planar surface 24 of the base memberand the surfaces of the legs thereof fixed to the interior surfaces ofthe member 14 defining the marble-receiving recess 30. The end wallelements 18 thus not only serve to interconnect the main componentmembers 12 and 14, but to enclose the ends of the cavity 30 whichreceives the marbles 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates certain variations in the construction of the members12 and 14, the end wall means 18 and their manner of assembly. In FIG. 4the device is indicated generally at 10'. The base member of the device10', which is indicated by the numeral 12', is substantially identicalwith the base member 12 previously described except that it is injectionmolded rather than extruded. Likewise, the device 10 includesa'cooperating elongated member, indicated at 14', which is like themember 14 previously described except that it, too,

is injection molded rather than extruded and has formed on the endsthereof as an integral part thereof end wall portions 18. As shown inFIG. 4, the base surface of each end wall portion 18' has integrallymolded thereon a pair of vertically spaced male connector elements 32.The molded base member 12' has integrally molded therein spaced pairs offemale connector elements 34 disposed in a position to receive the maleconnector elements 32. The connector elements may have any desiredconventional configuration and, as shown, are preferably of snap-fittype. With this arrangement, after the cavity 30 of the member 14' hasbeen filled with marbles 16, the base member 12' is simply snapped intooperative position by interengagement of the male and female connectorelements 32 and 34.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the marbles 16 are preferably of conventionalglass material and spherical in configuration. A preferred size is /8inch diameter. The marbles 16 substantially fill the cavity 30 betweenthe end wall elements 18, the cavity 30 providing a lower interiormarble-engaging surface extending upwardly from the lower edge structure28 in diverging relation to the exterior planar surface 24. The lowermarbleengaging surface of the cavity 30 preferably diverges from thesurface 24 at an angle of approximately 45. In this way, the marbles 16will be biased by their own weight to contact the surface 24.

It will also be noted that when the members 12 and 14 are fixed in theiroperative position by the end wall elements 18, the upper and lower edgestructures 26 and 28 are spaced slightly from the base member surface 24so as to define upper and lower horizontally elongated slots forreceiving vertically therethrough paper or other like sheet materialdesired to be releas ably held in the device for display.

While the present device is by no means limited in its use to releasablyholding note paper, such use is primarily contemplated and as a furtherconvenience means is provided in the device for supporting a writinginstrument. In the preferred embodiment shown, the writing instrumentsupporting means is in the form of an aperture 36 formed in the upperportion of the member 14 at one end extremity thereof. As best shown inFIG. 2, the end extremity of the member 14 within which the aperture 16is formed is disposed outwardly of the associated end wall element 18.

The preferred geometrical relationship of the marbles with respect tothe surfaces engaged thereby of the members 12 and 14 is particularlydesirable in that it permits note paper and other sheet material to beboth inserted and removed through either the upper slot or the lowerslot provided. That is, with a 45 angle, and the use of glass marblescontacting plastic surfaces, no wedging action occurs in response to adownward movement of a paper engaged within the device. In essence, thereleasable holding action of the marbles is accomplished by theirweight, rather than any gripping action by virtue of the geometricalrelationships involved. It will be understood, however, that while awedging action is not intended, the upper and lower slot arrangementwould readily provide for a more positive gripping action where desiredenabling the paper to be released only by an upward movement through theupper slot, and likewise under such circumstances, a paper could not beconveniently or operatively engaged by movement downwardly through theupper slot. It should be noted, however, that in any event the dual slotarrangement permits the releasable holding of notes which extend bothabove the upper slot and below the lower slot, thus materiallyincreasing the capacity of the device and rendering it more versatile inuse. With the arrangement shown it is preferable to introduce papers tothe device upwardly through the lower slot and to remove papers from thedevice upwardly through the upper slot.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been fullyand effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that theforegoing preferred specific embodiment has been shown and described forthe purpose of illustrating the functional and structural principles ofthis invention and is subject to change without departure from suchprinciples. Therefore, this invention includes all modificationsencompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A note-holding device comprising an elongated base member having anexterior planar surface, means for mounting said base member on asupport in an op erative position wherein the elongation of said memberextends generally horizontally and said exterior planar surface isdisposed generally vertically, a generally coextensive cooperatingelongated member having an upper edge structure, a lower edge structureand an interior marble-receiving cavity formed therebetween, end wallmeans closing the outer end portions of said cavity and fixedlyconnected with the outer end portions of said base member and saidcooperating member, thereby mounting said cooperating member on saidbase member in an operative position wherein said upper and lower edgestructures are spaced from said exterior planar surface throughout thelongitudinal extent thereof between said end walls so as to define withsaid planar surface a pair of vertically spaced horizontally elongatedslots of relatively narrow width for receiving note paper verticallytherethrough, said marble-receiving cavity including an interiormarbleengaging surface extending upwardly from said lower edge structurein diverging relation with respect to the planar surface of said basemember and a multiplicity of spherical glass marbles substantiallyfilling said cavity and supported therein by engagement with saidinterior marble-engaging surface and said exterior surface of said basemember so that note paper or the like moved through said slots isengaged between said exterior planar surface and said marbles andretained therein a note-reading position extending either downwardlyfrom the lower slot or upwardly from the upper slot.

2. A note-holding device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base memberhas a vertically elongated rectangular cross-sectional configuration andsaid cooperating member has an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

3. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said members areextruded of plastic material, said end wall means being fixedly securedto said members.

4. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said members areinjection molded of plastic material, said end wall means being formedintegrally with said cooperating member.

5. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said end wallmeans includes mounting surwherein said spherical marbles have adiameter of approximately 5/8 inch.

8. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein saidmarble-engaging surface extends at an angle of approximately 45 withrespect to said exterior planar surface.

9. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein said mountingmeans includes spaced adhesive strips fixedly secured to a surface ofsaid base member remote from said planar surface having pealable backingstrips covering the exposed adhesive surfaces thereof.

1. A note-holding device comprising an elongated base member having anexterior planar surface, means for mounting said base member on asupport in an operative position wherein the elongation of said memberextends generally horizontally and said exterior planar surface isdisposed generally vertically, a generally coextensive cooperatingelongated member having an upper edge structure, a lower edge structureand an interior marble-receiving cavity formed therebetween, end wallmeans closing the outer end portions of said cavity and fixedlyconnected with the outer end portions of said base member and saidcooperating member, thereby mounting said cooperating member on saidbase member in an operative position wherein said upper and lower edgestructures are spaced from said exterior planar surface throughout thelongitudinal extent thereof between said end walls so as to define withsaid planar surface a pair of vertically spaced horizontally elongatedslots of relatively narrow width for receiving note paper verticallytherethrough, said marble-receiving cavity including an interiormarbleengaging surface extending upwardly from said lower edge structurein diverging relation with respect to the planar surface of said basemember and a multiplicity of spherical glass marbles substantiallyfilling said cavity and supported therein by engagement with saidinterior marble-engaging surface and said exterior surface of said basemember so that note paper or the like moved through said slots isengaged between said exterior planar surface and said marbles andretained therein a notereading position extending either downwardly fromthe lower slot or upwardly from the upper slot.
 2. A note-holding deviceas defined in claim 1 wherein said base member has a verticallyelongated rectangular cross-sectional configuration and said cooperatingmember has an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
 3. A note-holdingdevice as defined in claim 2 wherein said members are extruded ofplastic material, said end wall means being fixedly secured to saidmembers.
 4. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein saidmembers are injection molded of plastic material, said end wall meansbeing formed integrally with said cooperating member.
 5. A note-holdingdevice as defined in claim 2 wherein said end wall means includesmounting surfaces for engaging said exterior planar surface of said basemember adjacent opposite end portions thereof, said end wall meanshaving male connector elements extending from said mounting surfaces,said base member having female connector means detachably fixedlyreceiving said male connector elements.
 6. A note-holding device asdefined in claim 2 wherein said cooperating member extends outwardlybeyond the end wall means at one end thereof and having an openingformed in the upper portion thereof for receiving and supporting thereina writing instrument or the like.
 7. A note-holding device as defined inclaim 2 wherein said spherical marbles have a diameter of approximately5/8 inch.
 8. A note-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein saidmarble-engaGing surface extends at an angle of approximately 45* withrespect to said exterior planar surface.
 9. A note-holding device asdefined in claim 2 wherein said mounting means includes spaced adhesivestrips fixedly secured to a surface of said base member remote from saidplanar surface having pealable backing strips covering the exposedadhesive surfaces thereof.